John b



(ModeL) J. B. H. LEONARD.

GUARD FOR GARVING FORKS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. H. LEONARD, OF GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR' TO THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GUARD FOR CARVlNG-FORKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,226, dated April 11, 1882.

' Application filed November 28, 188i. (Modem To all whom it may concern protect the hand of the operator; and myinvention consists in a peculiar construction and arrangement of the guard and support, whereby it may be applied with butlittle change of the ordinary construction of the implement to knives and steelsas well as forks, and securely retained in either of the positions to which it may be adjusted.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fork with my improvement. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a view of parts detached; and Fig. 5, a perspective view, showing my improvement applied to a carving-knife.

The shank, blade, and handle of the implement may be of any desired form,many of the usual forms being available in connection with my improvement without any other alteration than the boring of a transverse hole, a, through the shank b, and in some cases the making of a recess, 0, at one side thereof.

To lugs s, passing into the hole a, is pivoted a guard-support, A, shown as consisting of a A-shaped piece of metal or bent wire with heads at its extremities, the folded end extending to one side and constituting the guard, and the arms to the other side and constituting the support or rest, as is usual in this class of implements.

To one side of the tang or shank b is secured by arivet, u, or otherwise, a flat spring, B, of plate, wire, or other suitable material, so constructed as to spring toward and tend to lie against the shank, and bearing against pin 2', projecting from the legs of the guard, and in said spring is a notch, e, opposite the notch 0, serving with said notch c to receive the pin '5 when the guard is folded to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, thereby holding the the cross position shown in full lines, Figs. 1 and 2, the pin z enters a notch, n, at the end of the spring, and the guard is thereby retained, and a terminal lip, m, may be used to afford a secure detent, so as to render the folding back of the guard, when struck by a blow in the direction of the arrow, absolutely impossible. When the spring is extended along the shank, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, it is bent to form a shoulder at the point where the lip m is on the shorter spring, (shown in full lines,) and serving the same purpose. The inner end of the spring extends back, so that the ferrule 12 serves as an additional means of binding it to the shank, securing a more desirable attachment and presenting a neater finish.

The notches c 0, while desirable, are not essential, and may be dispensed with.

'I am aware that supports with springs for retaining them have been pivoted in slotsin the shanks; butin such case the shank is weakened, while the springs become inoperative by the collection of matter in the recesses containing them. By making the support straddle the shank the weakening of the latter is is maintained operative.

I claimp 1. The combination, with a carving implement, of a pivoted piece, A, having pin 17, and a spring, B, arranged on the lower side of the shank, and having a terminal lip or shoulder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the shank, the piece A, pivoted thereto, spring B, and ferrule 1), arranged to confine the spring to the shank, substantially as set forth. 7

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. H. LEONARD.

Witnesses:

HELEN J. BUNoE, l WILLIAM S. GosLEE.

same securely. When the guard is turned to avoided, and by putting the spring outside it 

